Antiglare vehicle attachment



May 18, 194-8. H. A. KOPP ANTIGLARE VEHICLE ATTACHMENT Filed May 9, 1946 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ay 18, 1948. KQPP 2,441,887

ANTIGLARE VEHICLE ATTACHMENT Filed May 9. 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HERMAN 1A. K025 Fatented May 18, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Herman A. Kopp, Bronx, N. Y.

Application May 9, 1946, Serial No. 668,528

8 Claims.

This invention relates to anti-glare devices for automobile Windshields and particularly to a type which is swingable between the positions of use and non-use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in an anti-glare device which is automatically put into and out of operation as it is swung or moved between its Positions of non-use and use. an arm structure shaped to contain the motor removed from the blade axis so as not to interfere with the vision through the rotating blades.

It is another object of the invention to provide in an anti-glare shield which is automatically spread or enlarged as the device is moved to the position of use and is automatically collapsed or closed when the device is swung or returned to its non-use position, novel means for effecting a driving connection between the motor and the blades and braking means operable upon the driving connection to effect the collapse. of the blades.

According to the invention, there is provided generally an adjustable support for mounting the device on the automobile, an arm pivoted on the support and operable between positions of use and non-use, an electrical motor carried by the arm adjacent its pivotable connection with the support and its shaft serving to effect the pivotal connection with the support, electrical contacts on the arm adapted to be automatically made as the arm is swung to a use position, and a collection of slotted blades drivingly connected-with the motor and adapted to be axially aligned with one another when in the out of use position so as not to interfere with the operators vision and adapted to be automatically fanned out as the motor is started by the movement of the arm from the non-use to the use position.

As the arm is moved to the non-use position the contacts are broken and a member is thrust into frictional engagement with one of the gears of gearing extending from the motor to the outer end. of the arm for operating the blades whereby to effect a sudden stoppage of the driving gear so as to cause the blades connected to the driving gear to close under the impact. The individual blades are so connected with their driving shaft that when the shaft is stopped they will by their inertia be brought into axial alignment with one another. The drive connection between the electric motor and the fan blades preferably takes the form of bevel gears connected on opposite ends of the shaft which runs through the arm of the device and connected at opposite ends with the bevel ear of the motor armature shaft and at the opposite end with the bevel gear of the blades.

v For further comprehension of the invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the ap pended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the anti-glare device swung down to its in use position and with its blades fanned outwardly to form a complete circle.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device in its in use position and showing with dotted lines the driving mechanism therefor.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device swung upwardly to the out of use position and with the 20 blades closed and in radial registry with one another.

Fig. 4 is across sectional view of the collection of anti-glare blades with its bevel gear and shaft thereon.

Fig. 5 is a collected view of several blades separated from the series and partly broken away and showing their hubs with different length slots therein which determine the distance that the respective blades angle from the stop which retains them in the collected position.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken longitudi nally 0f the arm and through the end or hub of the arm containing the blade collection, as along the line 6--6 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary plan view looking at the hub portion with the removable bearing element displaced therefromwhereby to show the gear connection with the collection of blades, the view being taken along the'line 1-1 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the hub end of the arm taken along the line 88 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the'arrows thereof.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the bearing element adapted to fit in the hub portion to journal the shaft for operating the blades.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the bracket clamp which is screw fastened to the automobile along the upper edge of the windshield and serving to adjustably clamp the ball of a support on which the arm is angularly adjustable. t Fig. 11 is a plan view looking upon the face of the ball support with which the arm cooperates 55 for angular adjustment.

i I j Fig. 12 is a top plan view: of the cover adapted to fit into the inner face of. the arm structure; I

. Fig. 131s Ea. longitudinal sectional view of; the

- :cover plate taken along the line 13-3-43; of Fig; 12,: I r I looking in the direction of the arrows thereof,=

- illust atin with. dotted lines how the motor arma- I I ture. shaft isl'ol rnalledinthe cover; I i i I I i I I I p I Fig. 14 is a fragmentary planview'looking into I I I v the imierside oi a portion of the arm structure I adjacent the; pivot. after the cover plate has been:

removed.

I 1.5 :is a longitudinal sectional View taken I along line l;-.-l 5 of Fig.v 14,.lookingin the direcad tion of thearrows thereof, showingthe constrtui- I I tion 7 of. the, motor and its connection with the;

. 1 gearing, and a; portion-of the electricalz iwiring E I r I I I v I v v I I structure showing; the, curnmutatoirbrushes; the l i I z i I l p I I t I viewbeing taken along the line Zia-4% of Fig, 15.

longitudinal sectional view looking i Fig. 17 is an; elevationai view of the-motor frame 1 I schematic wiring diagram of the :to the automobile at some-point above thewihd shield and made fixed thereto hyscrews or the like: adapted to pass through: screw holes: 22 in thebaseor the bracket.- Thisbracketfil; has. two pairs; of forwardly extending isoclret jaws I or portions :24 j and? 25 spaced from one another: I

and recessed at; 25 to receive a ball 22-: of a ball git-supporter; member 2 8.-The ball; support 28 ;.j throughtheiballzthe c m i brac 1; isuniversally adjustable in extend through the forwardly extending portions 24 and 25 toward one another and are engaged by wing nuts 29 to clamp the ball 2'! in place between the socket jaws or portions 24' and 25.

The ball support 28 has a hole 32 therein (Fig. 10) for receiving a motor shaft 33 whereby to make the connection of the arm structure 31 with th ball support for pivotal movement with respect thereto. Once the shaft 33 is in place, a set screw 35- threaded; into the ballsupport 28 cooperates with a groove 35 in the shaft end. This set screw acting in the groove will retain the arm structure against axial displacement while still permitting the pivotalmovement thereof. V The arm structure isindicated generallyate! and comprises a frame or motor housing 38*, an arm or shaft housing so on the outer end of which is a round hub. portion ll. The hub portion 4L carries a removable bearingdz attached byscrews 53 thereto and a fan blade structure 6.4 (Fig. 4) comprising anti-glare blades 45 and a shaft 46 adapted to be j ournalled in the bearing 42 and retained therein against axial displacement by means of a set screw 4! which enters a groove won theouter endof the shaft 46.

The arm structure. 37,. including its arm or shaft housing 39. and frame or motor housing 33, is hollowed out to receive a drive shaft 49 having a bevel, gear 51 thereon which meshes with a bevel gear 5,; onan armature shaft. 33 and at its outer end the shaft extends into a roundopening 5A in the hub portion 4|, wherein it contains a bevel'gear 55, adapted to, drivea bevel ear 56 on the shaft 46 of the anti glare blade structure.

t and when located in: its I I madiusted' position, is. fixed by bolts 3!; which I v I v I I and winding removed from the farm structure. I I

. I I I ev I p p v I I I i I I ReferringnowtoFigs.1.2.and 3: wherein there I I I .;I .I.;.;.j.,. ;,is;shown the general structure of the devicepZl r v 1 cover 9 whereby; to limit the turning movement sinowitoFig;itgthereis'shownithe i 7 operating face of the: baliwgu-ppgpt, w r I I I a mping= r k t adapted to; be; connected I I hereisthehole 32 into which thesnaftea i I;

I I I I I @extendediforcoupling-engagement:withthe ball support, an axially-extending'projection'or pm ifiyj ;The:armatureIshaft 33 carries-anarmatureffl I and; a commutator. '58. I The armature 5 rotates i :in'the frame or motor housing 38 (Fig. 17) which has-a: field Winding ,5! therein. The armature I shaft 33 is .iournalled in the end :of the housing I s At opposite sides of the -Qjournaiopening 62 and fixed to the housing 38 p I are. commutatorbrushes 63 and i l with which I 1 the commutator 58 engages to effect the actua- I tion-oi the motor. The arm or shaft housingtll provides a recess I I I 65, (Fig. is) in which the shaft 139 is journalled; Adjacent each side of the recess are shoulder I portions .Bfiand 6"! adapted to support apart of I I f covenfiamigs. 12 and 13) of such shapeas not only to 'fill the arm:orshaft housing 39 ofth'e i 38 as indicated at 62.

'I '1 Y arm tructure 37 but also the inner end of the Z i z 1 motcrihousing'sa whereinitiszsupported onia f'f tran v rse portion TH through whieh'the shait I I 49: extends and is journalled; I The I cover I 69- is I i I retained in. place; on the arm :structure'by the I j' screws passed through cpenings'lr inthe sides of I I I i the arm,; holes 73 cooperating with :holes 14 in the top of the transverse portion 72; and a 15 at the end of the motor housing 38;

Hi adapted to work in: an arcuate slot 11 of the ,of-g the; arm structure; a circumferentiallyandT f ra-dially extendingicamming slot Hi, and a bridg i 'ing electric ccntactingplate is; ali'of which are I circumferentially spaced from one another about i i i 3 the hole 32'. Wit h-the arm structure place i I ontheiball support with the shaft3 3-having been I I extcndedthrough ahole 8E 'in'thecover scam j i thence into the opening 32 Of the ball support the projectionv or pin 16 will lie in the slot '11 and a sliding brake member 82 having a projection or pin 83 extending from the top of the cover and cooperating with the camming slot 78 in the ball support is adapted to be worked in a slot 84 extending longitudinally of the cover 69; To retain the brake member 82 against movement through the bottom of the cover, the member has a radially extending flange 86 Working on a shouldersurface 81.

As the arm is swungupwardly or to an out of use position, the brake 82 is moved inwardly toward the shaft 33 and supplies braking action uponradiallyextending face 88 of the bevel gear 5| to suddenlystop the driving mechanism and the anti-glareblade structure. As the arm structure is returned to thein use position, the brake 82 is released from the surface 88.

The bearingsupport 42- (Fig. 9) has an inwardly extending tapered portion 9| to provide adequate journal surface for the support of the anti-glare blade structure- The. tapered portion 9! will be supported: on ashoulder 92 (Fig. 7') when in place, onthe hub and retained thereon by the screWs lB. three of whichare provided for thepurpose. I I 7 Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5-, detailed descriptionv will be made to the blade structure. The shaft 46 is. hollow and has rigidly connected toit end. plates 93,and 9. 1v between whichthere extends a pin 95'. Each, blade 45-hasa hub, portion. 95 and an opening 96. to. pivotally connectthe, same with the shaft 46. Surrounding the. opening 96 isa concentric slot 9] through whichthepin 95' extends. As shown more clearly in Fig. 5 the lm fI jf concentric slot for the different blades are of different length thereby giving each of the blades a different amount of fanning movement before they are stopped by the pin 95'. As the power is turned on, the pin 95' willpick up the different blades and cause them to be fanned out. As the brake 82 is applied to the gearing, the shaft 40 is stopped and the blades will continue to travel until they reach the pin to come into axial registry with one another as when the arm is raised or moved to the out of use position. The blades themselves are made of opaque material but have slots 98 through which only limited light can penetrate. This amount of light is so small that the glare or greater portion of light coming from the head lights of an oncoming automobile, is eliminated.

Referring now to Figs. 14, 15 and particularly Fig. 18, there is provided at the upper portion of the motor housing 38 a shelf portion I01 having contacts I02 and I03. The contact I02 is fed with current from a terminal I04 on the exterior of the housing 38. The other contact I03 is connected by a wire I05 to the brush 63, see Fig. 18. Another terminal I06 is connected directly to the brush 64. Across these brushes there is connected the shunt field winding 6| to supply the magnetic field for the armature 51. In the cover 69 there are two small holes I01 and I08 adapted to be aligned with contacts I02 and I03 respectively. Within these holes there are inserted contact springs adapted to be supported by the contacts I02 and I03 and extended therefrom. As the arm structure 31 is turned to an in use position the contacts through the springs within the openings I01 and I08 are bridged by the contact plate I0 on the ball support, thereby starting operation of the electric motor. As the arm is swung to the out of use position, not only is the brake 82 applied to the face of the bevel gear 88 but the bridging plate I9 is removed from the contacts to shut off the power from the motor.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided an anti-glare device for automobiles which is wholly automatic in operation and requires only that the arm be moved from the out of use position to the in use position to set the device in motion and to keep it running. The blades are automatically fanned out at this time and when the arm is brought back to the out of use position, the blades will automatically close so as not to at this time, interfere with the vision of the driver. The area consumed at this time is only that of one blade since the blades have become stacked one upon the other.

It will also be further apparent that by having the motor housing located adjacent the pivot point on the ball support rather than at the outer end of the arm structure adjacent the blades, the amount of vision through the blades is not impaired by the housing.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An anti-glare device comprising a support, an arm structure pivoted on said support for movement between positions of non-use and use, said arm structure including a motor housing adjacent its connection with the support and a hub portion radially removed from the housing, an electric motor in the, housing, an anti-glare blade structure on the hub portion including a series of rotatively supported blades, means controlling angular movement of said blades relative to one another when moved to be evenly spaced into a circular formation from their positions of radial registry with one another, and means extending through the arm structure from the motor housing to the hub portion for establishing a driving connection between the motor and the collection of anti-glare blades.

2. An anti-glare device comprising a support, an arm structure pivoted on said support for movement between positions of non-use and use, said arm structure including a motor housing adjacent its connection with the support and a hub portion radially removed from the housing, an electric motor in the housing, an anti-glare blade structure on the hub portion including a series of rotatively supported blades, means controlling angular movement of said blades relative to one another when moved to be evenly spaced into a circular formation from their positions of radial registry with one another, means extending through the arm structure from the motor housing to the hub portion for establishing a driving connection between the motor and the collection of anti-glare blades, said driving connection between the motor and the anti-glare blades including a bevel gear on the electric motor, a, shaft journalled in the arm structure and extending from the motor housing to a point Within the hub portion, a bevel gear on a shaft within the housing drivingly connected with the motor bevel gear, a bevel gear on the shaft and within the hub, said blade structure including a shaft and a bevel gear on the shaft adapted to be driven by the bevel gear on the shaft extend-- ing from the motor housing.

3. An anti-glare device comprising a support, an arm structure pivoted on said support for movement between positions of non-use and use, said arm structure including a motor housing adjacent its connection with the support and a hub portion radially removed from the housing, an electric motor in the housing, an anti-glare blade structure on the hub portion including a series of rotatively supported blades, means controlling angular movement of said blades relative to one another when moved to be evenly spaced into a circular formation from their positions of radial registry with one another, means extending through the arm structure from the motor housing to the hub portion for establishing a driving connection between the motor and the collection of anti-glare blades, said blade structure including a shaft with a, driving member thereon, said driving member disposed within the hub portion, a bearing member removably secured to the hub portion, said shaft of the blade structure journalled inthe bearing member, and means for retaining the blade structure within the bearing member against axial displacement with respect thereto.

4. An anti-glare device comprising a support, an arm structure pivoted on said support for movement between positions of non-use and use, said arm structure including a motor housing adjacent its connection with the support and a hub portion radially removed from the housing, an electric motor in the housing, an anti-glare blade structure on the hub portion including a series of rotatively supported blades, means controlling: angular movement oi saidblades-relative to. one: another. when. moved to. be: evenly spaced; into acircular formation. from their: positions oi radial: registry with; one. another, means; extending; through the; arm; structure. from: the. motor" housingv to. the; hub. portion for establishing: a driving connection between the motor and; the collection of antirglareblade'a. and means; applyiing a. braking. action. to the driving. connection [means effect: av sudden; stoppage: of: the blades; when. the. motor is deenergized;

5; An. anti-glare device. comprising a support, an arm structure pivoted; on; said: support for. movement; between. positions; of: non-use and use, said arm structure: including a. motor housing adjacent its. connection. with. the support and: a.

hub: portion radially: removed-1 from the housing, an. electricmotor. in the housing; an antirglare blade. structure on the. hub portion including. a.

series of; rotatively. supported'bla'des', means: controlling. angular. movement. of saidiblades relative to.-0ne' another whenimovedto-be evenly'spac'ed;

intoa circular formation from". their: ositions. of radial registry with. one another, meansextending through the arm; structure from the.;motor.

housing to. the hub portion for establishing. a.

driving connection: between. the 'motor. and the. collection of. anti-glare blades, said driving. connection. includingv gearing with one: of its. gears movement. between. positions: of non-use and .use,.

said arm structure including. a motor housing adjacent itsv connectiomwith; the. support and a hub portion radially removed from; the? housing, am electric; motor inthev housing; an. anti-glare blade; structure. on the;huhportionincluding a;

seriessof rotatively supported blades, means controlling angularmovement. of said blades relative: t0. oneianother when: moved to be evenly spaced;

intoa. circular formation fromitheir. positions. of radial; registry: with one: another,. means extending through; the arm structure from the motor housing tcrthe: hub portion for establishin driving; connection betvveenv the: motor. and the collectiontoi; anti-glare:blades, said drivingmeans. includingza bevel gear-extendingiat: right. angles to themotor. shaft, saidLarm structure and'housing:;being open. on its inner face; ascover. extend' ingover saidopening; a longitudinally. slidablemember; carried, by the coverx-andaslidable into and out. off'engagement. with. said; gear onnthe:

driving means whereby Whemin engagement to apply: a; brakingractioni upon; the. driving; meansand'refiecti acsudden z stoppage; ofi thelblades asthe armzstnu'ctur'e is swung to a positioniot non-use, saidz braking member projecting from the cover adjacent the pivotal: connection; ofLthe arm structurewith said pivotrsnpport, andlsaidpivot-supporthav-ing'. a. camm'ing slot. adapted: to receive the; proj action: of: theibrakihg memberrtoi eifect. its operation;- as the arm: structure is pivoted. upon: the support. c

7;. An; antiL-glare: device comprising: asupport, an: arm: structure pivoted on said: support for movement; between positions of non-use. and use, said'. arm: structure; including; a. motor housing adjacent its connection: with the: support and.- a hub portion radially removed from the: housing;- an; electric: motor in. the; housing an? ant-ii-glare blade. structure: on. the hub; portion: including; a.

series of f rotatively supportedi. blades, means: con, trolling angular movement-of said. blades relative. tow one: another; whenimovedi to be evenly spaced into, a; circular.- iormation from their: positions of.

radial registry; with; one.- another means extending: through. the: arm:,structure from the motor. housing. to: the hub: portion; for: establishing. a: driving; connectiom between the motor and; the: collection of anti+glare2 blades; comprising. an. armature shaftv extending; inwardly from" the arm structure ahdadapted to servei as aimeans. for connecting the'arm" struct'urawith theipivot support, said "pivotzsupport; havingga central opening. for: receivin g: the: armature shaft, and" means for securing-1 the: armature; shaft: within". the supportopening. against axial: displacement therefrom while permittingrotationaof the'shaftandpivotal.

movement of the arm; structure.

'8. A-n;anti-glare: device; comprising: a: support.

fixedly mounted in: position, an: army pivotally mounted onisaidi supportfor movement. between positions: of; USBL'ZIId non'uSe;. a series of glare eliminating blades. rotativelyj mounted: on: said.

arm: and; normally .in: stacked: inoperative position; .means-a controlli'ngithe angular. displacement of. saidbladesrrela-tive t'oxones' another'to: form. a. complete;- circlewhen: opened, and means corrt-rol'led by-movementuof: sa-idv armufrom a: position ofnon-use to. a: position; offuse .fo'r openings-the blades into? saidwcircular formation:

HERMA-NxAz KOPPJ:

r REEERENoEs CITED The followingreferences are-0f record inthe 

